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Mismanagement puts Hamilton Township in financial mess

Hamilton County fiscal officer Jackie Terwilleger retired from her position and left Hamilton Township in financial disarray. Terwilleger -- who had held her position for more than 33 years -- was recently accused of mismanaging taxpayers’ money and falsifying township checks. Independent accountants also found Terwilleger's work was allegedly full of mistakes.

Hamilton County fiscal officer Jackie Terwilleger retired from her position and left Hamilton Township in financial disarray. Terwilleger -- who had held her position for more than 33 years -- was recently accused of mismanaging taxpayers’ money and falsifying township checks. Independent accountants also found Terwilleger's work was allegedly full of mistakes.

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Updated: 7:31 PM EDT Mar 14, 2014

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WEBVTT TONIGHT.... AFTER FINDINGOUT.... IT HAS LESS MONEY THANIT THOUGHT. A LOT LESS!AND THE PERSON SOME SAY ISRESPONSIBLE.... IS OFF THE JOB.WLWT NEWS FIVE'S KARIN JOHNSONIS LIVE TONIGHT.... WITH HOWHAMILTON TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS....HOPE TO MOVE FORWARD. KARIN.AN EMERGENCY MEETING... CALLEDTODAY IN HAMILTONTOWNSHIP. MISMANAGEMENT ANDPOOR DECISIONS HAVE LEFT THETOWNSHIP IN A FINANCIAL MESS.THIS ALL DEALS WITH YOURTAXPAYER DOLLARS.(NATS: I think it's appropriateyou call this an emergency) THEWOMAN WHO SIGNS THE CHECKS...AND PAYS THE BILLS....OUT THE DOOR... LEAVING HAMILTONTOWNSHIP WITH NO FISCAL OFFICER.IN A BRIEF LETTER TO TRUSTEES,JACKIE TERWILLEGER, SAID SHE WASRETIRING EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.(DAVID WALLACE/TRUSTEE: giventhat she still has 2 years lefton her term, I think it wasunexpected as far as the timinggoes) IT ALSO COMES AT A TIMEWHEN THE TOWNSHIP'S FINANCES AREIN DISARRAY. TERWILLEGER---WHOHAD HELD HER POSITION FOR MORETHAN 33 YEARS--- WAS RECENTLYACCUSED OF MISMANAGING TAXPAYERSMONEY AND FALSIFYING TOWNSHIPCHECKS.(WALLACE: I don't think it'smoney missing. I think it wasjust the money mismanaged wherethe prior board of trustees wastracking an additional 2.5million that when the auditscame down, come to find out themoney really wasn't there)TRUSTEES SAY AN INDEPENDENTACCOUNTANT ALSO FOUNDTERWILLEGER MADE 18-HUNDREDACCOUNTING ERRORS IN THE LAST 3YEARS.(RAY WARRICK/RESIDEN T: there'sstill so much unknown to thecitizens. we don't even knowwhat forced this issue today.Whether its because of stateauditors things, things with thecourts. There's still a lot ofthings going on thatwe are still on a rumor basis)THE STATE AUDITOR HAS BEEN INTOWN. HIS OFFICE IS REVIEWINGTHE BOOKS. WE'VE LEARNED THECOUNTY PROSECUTOR ISINVESTIGATING TOO. IN THEMEANTIME ... TRUSTEE DAVIDWALLACE SAYS THE BOARD HASRECENTLY TAKEN STEPS SO THOSEWHO LIVE HERE CAN EASILY SEE HOWTHEIR MONEY IS BEING SPENT.(WALLACE: as far as if you go toour website you can look at theminutes. You can see payrollchecks on there now so everycheck the township writes isvisible)(the curtains been pulled backand now the residents can seethe finances)HAMILTON TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES HAVE30 DAYS TO HIRE A NEW FISCALOFFICER. THEY'VE SCHEDULED ASPECIAL MEETING TO BEGIN THEPROCESS. THAT'S SET FOR 6O'CLOCK MONDAY NIGHT. REPORTINGLIVE, KARIN JOHNSON, WLWT NEWS5.TRUSTEES SAY .... THEY EXPECT TOTRUSTEES SAY .... THEY EXPECT TOKNOW THE RESULTS FROM THESTATE AUDITORS OFFICE.... BY THEEND OF MAY. NO WORD... ON HOWLONG THE PROSECUTORSINVESTIGATION IS EXPECTED TOTAKE. WE ALSO HAVE SOME

Mismanagement puts Hamilton Township in financial mess

Hamilton County fiscal officer Jackie Terwilleger retired from her position and left Hamilton Township in financial disarray. Terwilleger -- who had held her position for more than 33 years -- was recently accused of mismanaging taxpayers’ money and falsifying township checks. Independent accountants also found Terwilleger's work was allegedly full of mistakes.